May kicks out 23 Russian diplomat ‘spies’ in biggest expulsion since Cold War

Britain will suspend high-level contacts with Russia, including a boycott of the World Cup by ministers and members of the royal family.

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Theresa May tells MPs that the UK is to expel 23 Russian diplomats (PA)

Britain is kicking 23 suspected Russian spies out of the country in the largest mass expulsion of diplomats since the Cold War, as relations with Moscow plunged into the deep-freeze following the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

Announcing the action in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Theresa May said the attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia amounted to “an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom”.

She announced the suspension of high-level contacts with Russia, including a boycott of this summer’s World Cup by Government ministers and members of the royal family.

Russia’s embassy in London denounced the move as “unacceptable, unjustified and shortsighted”, after Moscow denied any connection with the Salisbury incident.

Speaking ahead of the PM’s statement, a spokesman for Russian president Vladimir Putin told reporters: “Moscow won’t accept absolutely unfounded accusations against it, which are not substantiated by any evidence, and won’t accept the language of ultimatum.”

Soldiers wearing protective clothing prepare to lift and recover a vehicle in Gillingham, Dorset, as the investigation into the suspected nerve agent attack continues (Andrew Matthews/PA)

She told MPs: “There is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of Mr Skripal and his daughter – and for threatening the lives of other British citizens in Salisbury, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey.

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“This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom.”

(PA Graphics)

The 23 Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers have been given a week to leave, in the largest mass expulsion since 31 were ordered out in 1985 following the defection of double agent Oleg Gordievsky.

The expulsions will “fundamentally degrade Russian intelligence capability in the UK for years to come”, said Mrs May, adding: “If they seek to rebuild it, we will prevent them from doing so.”

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Exclusive: Russian Ambassador to the UK says the British Government response to #Salisbury is “absolutely unacceptable and we consider this a provocation” pic.twitter.com/QI1O7BUby1

Mrs May told MPs the Government will also develop new powers “to harden our defences against all forms of hostile state activity”, including by tightening checks on cross-border movements of those who may endanger UK security.

A “Magnitsky” amendment to legislation currently going through Parliament will create powers to target the assets of those responsible for human rights violations.

Mrs May told MPs: “Led by the National Crime Agency, we will continue to bring all the capabilities of UK law enforcement to bear against serious criminals and corrupt elites.

“There is no place for these people – or their money – in our country.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was barracked by Conservative MPs as he asked the Prime Minister how she had responded to requests from the Russian government for a sample of the nerve agent used in the attack so it could run its own tests.

Condemning the Salisbury incident as a “dreadful, appalling act”, Mr Corbyn called for multilateral action in response and said it was a matter of “huge regret” that the UK’s diplomatic network had been cut by 25% in the last five years

The Foreign Office said that the Salisbury incident was not isolated, but followed a “well-established pattern of Russian state aggression”.